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Darkest Hour hits cinemas this week in the wake of a Golden Globe win for Best Actor for Gary Oldman, and nine BAFTA nominations. The film is set during the early days of World War II, focussing on the difficulties a newly-appointed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill faced on whether to negotiate with Hitler, or fight on against incredible odds.
Although set in London, the production made use of the breadth of impressive locations from across England with assistance from Creative England’s Production Services team.
Yorkshire
Rotherham’s Wentworth Woodhouse, a privately-owned Grade I listed country house, was used to double for Buckingham Palace’s interior.
Darkest Hour © 2018 Universal Pictures International All Rights Reserved
Two popular Yorkshire locations were used to double as the interior of 10 Downing Street. Bramham Park in Leeds, built in 1698, is already a popular filming location, appearing in Wuthering Heights, Lost in Austen and The Syndicate.
Nicholas Pritchard, Resident Agent at Bramham Park Estate said:
“We were delighted to be chosen as one of the key locations for the film – the production team filmed inside the main house and also recreated the interior of 10 Downing Street inside another property we have on the estate. Bramham Park has range of buildings and landscapes that double for all kinds of cinematic locations. Creative England are in touch regularly about new film projects in the Yorkshire region; and we look forward to working with more high profile productions in the future.”
Brodsworth Hall in Doncaster also served as interiors for 10 Downing Street. The ‘conserved as found’ country house has been carefully preserved by English Heritage to present a real-life appearance of a Victorian house, and is a popular filming location in the area.
Darkest Hour © 2018 Universal Pictures International All Rights Reserved
North West
Manchester Town Hall was used to double as the Houses of Parliament in the Darkest Hour. The Victorian neo-classical building has been a popular and flexible choice for producers, representing the corridors of power in The Iron Lady, as well as giving period flavour to Victor Frankenstein and Sherlock Holmes. Some scenes were also filmed at the infamous John Rylands Library.
Darkest Hour © 2018 Universal Pictures International All Rights Reserved
Kent
Several scenes were shot at Fort Amherst, previously used as an Air Raid Warning command post during World War II.
Chartwell House was used in some scenes, with it being Churchill’s former home. The national trust property in Westerham remains fairly similar to the time Churchill lived there (credit to Kent Film Office).
Darkest Hour © 2018 Universal Pictures International All Rights Reserved
South-East
Bicester Aerodrome in Oxfordshire was used for aircraft shots.
Darkest Hour is released in UK cinemas on the 12th January, and is nominated for Best Film at the BAFTAs next month.
For more information on filming in the English Regions
contact Creative England’s Production Services Team on
+44 (0)20 8324 2311, email: production@creativeengland.co.uk
